ClumsyPenguin

I really liked the social aspects of the game. Dialogues between characters were sometimes naive and childish, but I liked the story regardless. I wish the romance was more fleshed out. What is definitely the flaw of this game is that it’s built to be replayed (4 routes), but not much changes on replay. We got different perspective and a lot of small info but battle locations were the same (I played lions and deers). Combat was great. The design was really good, it felt like medieval fantasy (design felt realistic in most part). In the end I had a great time and I wish new fire emblem games will contain mature story with toned down design and rewarding combat, just like three houses.

I hate the design (I loved three houses design). Cutscenes are disconnected (one cutscene shows character standing and talking, second later a cutscene of MC standing in completely different location and talking to someone. It’s like characters just teleport. It’s very annoying and confusing about what this actually happening). Cutscenes are boring (exchanging nice words mostly) and storytelling is bad in general. I will say nothing about the gameplay, as the story alone made me not want to continue. Such a shame, I loved three houses, I expected weaker story but this… This is just bad.

Pros: - Story - Music - Dialogues - Amount of choices you can make - Possibility to romance other characters - Possibility to chose gender of your character - Design - Multiple endings Cons: - Design of some characters (mainly Dys) - Bad metaphors. I get what authors tried to say but I cringed at some of them (Dysthymia? Seriously?) - Romance is feeling like bothering people, as the only way to romance someone is to either brake them up with their first choice or to get into poly relationship. I play games to feel good, not to feel like a second choice to literally everyone. - Only one way to achieve certain outcomes (I know, the game is all about replayability, but there is only so much time one playthrough. One mistake and the outcome you want it’s not possible anymore. How many times should I replay it to get ending I want?) - There is so many endings that some of them are totally disconnected from the actual gameplay (In my first run I was an explorer and I got the farmer ending because farming was activity I did the most. Seriously?) - Too short (I get it, the game is ment to be replayed but I would rather achieve everything I want within one run, not have to start multiple times to even see the outcome I want to see)

I’m giving such a low score, because it matches the feeling I have about this game - “Overwhelming Dislike”. From RPG like dragon age I expect the following: immersion, impactful choices, moral dilemmas, possibility to sculpt personality of my character, well written companions and a wide range of interactions with companions. This game has nothing of it. It took all the worst qualities of inquisition and made them even worse. I don’t mind gameplay changes and could even get used to bad Disney like look (I will be waiting for mods to correct textures), but taking agency from the player to make their own moral choices, preaching (I’m leftist) and writing made for children is making the game unplayable, no matter the good qualities it has.

The Zelda game I was waiting for. Great mix of old and new mechanics. I find the game to be beautiful, fun, cosy and rewarding. The only issue I see is the sorting functionality. There should be a way to hide echoes or create a group with favourite ones. The list is just too long.